Vehicle auxiliary light



OCt- 13, 1953 c. A. MICHEL ET A1. 2,655,592

VEHICLE AUXILIARY LIGHT lFiled June' 12, 194e A En . n f/ f* el /f f n v attorneys Patented Oct. 13, 1953 VEHICLE AUXILIARY LIGHT Clarence A. Michel, Howard C. Mead, John H. Diedring, and Edward L. Barcus, Anderson, Ind., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application June 12, 1948, Serial No. 32,654

2 Claims. (Cl. 24U-8.18)

The present invention relates to electric lighting devices and more particularly to -automotive vehicle auxiliary lights.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensively constructed portable auxiliary trouble light for automotive vehicles which is especially adapted to utilize the well-known sealed-beam light as a source of illumination.

This and other objects are attained in accordance With the present invention by providing a holder for a sealed-beam lamp comprising an electrical connector adapted to receive the bayonet terminals of the lamp and mounted in concentric relation with means which forms with the assembled lamp and connector a reel about which a considerable length of electrical conductor may be wound. A bracket suitable for mounting in the trunk compartment or under the hood is adapted to carry the lamp and holder assembly as a unit.

The novel features which are characteristic of our invention are set forth With particularity in the appended claims. Our invention itself, however, will be best understood in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a side view partly in section and partly broken away of a trouble light assembly embodying the present invention. Figure 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an exploded view similar to Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a View taken along the line 4--4 of Figure l.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawing, there is illustrated an auxiliary or trouble light 2 embodying the present invention attached to a convenient Wall 4 preferably in the luggage compartment or under the hood of a vehicle (not shown).

The auxiliary light 2 consists of a portable lighting unit 6 and a bracket 8 in which the unit 6 is mounted and carried in clamped position, as shown, by the clamp I0, threaded member I2 and thumb nut I4.

The portable light 2 comprises a sealed-beam lamp I6 having its terminals in sliding contact with the terminals Il of any suitable electrical connector I3 mounted concentrically in a spool member 20. The terminals of connector I8 are connected to a llexible extension cord 22 which is Wound on the spool when the light is not in use. The other end of the extension cord is connected to a plug terminal 24 which is carried by a spring clip 26 attached to the back of the spool 20. Spring clips 28 retain the lamp I6 and spool 20 in assembled relationship.

For a better understanding of the details of the portable light 2 reference may be had to the exploded view of Figure 3. In Figure 3, the lamp I6 is illustra-ted as having terminals 30 which slidably engage the terminals of connector I8. The spool 20 comprises a cup-shaped member 32 with a rectangular plate 34 attached to its partly closed end. The abutting cup-shaped member 32 and plate 34 form an annular groove 36 which is adapted to receive the ange 38 on the connector I8. The spool 20 is assembled with the connector I8 by placing the connector in the aperture 40 in the cup-shaped member 32 until the flange 38 abuts the edge of the cup-shaped member. The plate 34 is then joined to the cup-shaped member along with spring clip 26 by a rivet 42. With the spool 20 assembled, the lamp terminals 30 are inserted in the connector I8 for contact with the terminals I1 of vthe connector and the parts clamped in assembled relationship by the spring clips 28. The axis of lamp I6 is preferably alignedwith the axis of the cup-shaped member 32. With the lamp and spool assembled a reel space is provided between the lamp and rectangular plate 34 for carrying a considerable length of conductor. These clips 28 are fastened to the spool 20 by tongue and groove joints and are provided with generally U-shaped end portions 44 which engage the ange 46 of the lamp I6. The flexible conductor 22 has its leads connected at one end to the terminals I'I of the connector I8 and at the other end to the plug terminal 24. The flexible conductor may then be Wound around the spool and the plug terminal clamped in the spring clip 26. With the portable light 6 assembled it is positioned in the bracket 8 with the flange 46 of the lamp I8 recessed in slots 48 in the inturned edges 5I) of the bracket member. The clamp I0 and thumb nut I4 clamp the lighting unit in the bracket.

When it is desired to use the light, it is removed from the bracket and the iiexible conductor un- Wound from the reel. The plug terminal 24 is then inserted in the cigar lighter recess of the vehicle or in a receptacle especially provided for the lamp. With a sufficient length of conductor the unit may be moved to any position about the vehicle and placed on the ground for lighting a particular portion of the vehicle. In this connection the rectangular plate 34 provides means for the prevention of rolling of the lamp and in addition provides for adjusting the beam of the light at different angles on the vehicle. By turning the unit so that the long side of the rectangular plate 34 is in contact with the support surface the beam of the light is projected in one d1- 3 rection at the vehicle. Turning the unit so that the short side of the rectangular plate is in engagement with the support surface, a different direction of beam is obtained. This is apparent from the fact that the perpendicular distance from the axis of the lamp unit to one edge or side, for example the short side, of the rectangular plate 34 is greater than the perpendicular distance from the axis of the lamp unit to another edge or side, for example the long side, of the plate. Thus a plane which is tangent to the peripheral edge of the lamp unit and passes through the long side or edge of the rectangular plate defines an angle with the axis of the lampunit which is different in magnitude fromv the angle defined by the lamp unit 'axis and afplane tangent to the peripheral edge of the lamp and passing through the short side or edge of the plate.

The auxiliary light of the present invention provides a simple and inexpensively constructed trouble light for. vehicles and in addition has the added important feature of providing at all times a spare sealed-beam lamp for the headlight system.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a vehicle auxiliary lamp assembly the combination of a cupped member, means positioning an electrical connector within said member. a lamp unit having terminals in engagement with the terminals of said connector. said lamp unit and said member having a common` axis, and a plate attached to one end of said member and substantially perpendicular to said axis, at least one edge of said plate being spaced a greater perpendicular distance from said axis than another edge of said plate, the peripheral edge of said lamp unit and an. edge of said plate providing a support for said assembly whereby the angle of the lamp beam is adjusted when the assembly is supported by selected edges of said plate and the peripheral edge of the lamp unit.

2. In a vehicle auxiliary lamp yassembly the combination as dened by claim 1, wherein said lamp unit comprises a sealed bm lamp, and a plurality of spring clip members are attached at one end to said cupped member and have means at the other end for engaging said peripheral edge of said lamp to secure said cupped member tosaid'lamp.

CLARENCE A. MICHEL. HOWARD C. MEAD. JOHN H. DIEDRING. EDWARD L. BARCUS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 365,189v Lemp et al June 2l, 1887 982,651 Wellman Jan. 24, 1911 1,271,980 Wright July 9, 1918 1,319,473. Grigsby Oct. 21, 1919 1,330,974, Bauman et al. Feb. 17, 1920 1,392,441 Nickonow Oct. 4, 1921 1,447,050 Stimson Feb. 27, 1923 1,744,230 Kulier Jan. 21, 1930 2,168,118 Dickson Aug. 1, 1939 2,236,435 Lodkshin Mar. 25. 1941 2,334,900 Bosten et al Nov. 23, 1943 2,424,719- Stoeck et al Juhll 29, 1947 FOREIGN'PATENTS Humber Country Date 243,828 England Dec. 10, 1925 270,051 England May 5, 1927 385,740 England Jan. 5, 1933 

